Telegraphic instrument



'Feb. 12, 1924;

W. S. LYTLE TELEGRAPHIG INSTRUMENT Filed July 16. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR WALTERS LJ TLE 38 BY I fl Q ,M ATTORNEY Feb 112 1924.

W. S. LYTLE TELEGRAPHIC INSTRUMENT Filed July 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR I mum? 5. LYTL MFW A TTORN Y Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

TENT FFICE.

WALTER S. LYTLIE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

frnnnenernic INSTRUMENT.

Application filed-Yul 16, 1921. .Serial No. 485,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. WALTER S. LYTLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelegraphic Instruments, of which the following is a description.

This invention is animproved telegraphic instrument havingcharacteristic capacities for use as a right or left hand semi-automaticor a Morse key, for simple adjustment of the dot making contacts insemi-automatic operation to correct usual defective action due toweather conditions and secure the distinct expression of characters, andfor changing the semiautomatic features and regulating the operation soas to secure the strokes desired.

The invention, in a. preferred form thereof, is embodied in theinstrument specified in the following description and theaccompanyingdrawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the instrumentadjusted forsemi-automatic operations induced by the right hand of the operator;Fig. 2 is a top. plan view of the instrument adjusted for use as a Morsekey; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the instrument adjusted forsemi-automatic operations induced by the left hand of the operator; Fig.i is aside elevation ofthe instrument in position for semi-aut0maticoperation with the parts in the relation shown in Fig. 1.; Fig. 5 is aplan view of a detached key lever with oscillatory. connections; Fig. 6is a side elevation of the instrument with the parts in the relationillustrated in Fig. 2; r 1g. 7 is a front end he instrument illustratedcomprises the base 1 having mounted thereon the bearing 2 fixedintermediate its ends and thebearing elevation ofthe instrument with theparts in the relation illus- 3 either fixed or hinged adjacent. its rearend; the insulated conducting posts 4 intermediate its ends betweenrespective opposite sides of the bearings 2 and 3 and the insulatedconducting posts 5 near its rear end on opposite sides of the bearing 3the 1'-ea1 war'dly diverging conducting (contact bars 6 each connectinga post i with a post 5 on the same side of thebase; the insulatedconducting posts 7 near the front end of the base and provided with theadjustable contacts 8, and the insulated conducting post 9,-between theposts 7 and provided with the contact 10, a conducting bar 40 connectingthe posts 7 the base. i

Abent operating lever 11, having the contact 4.4 for engaging therespective contact 8 and 10 and the offset section 11' provided with theoperating knob 12, passes through and is fixedto a disk or circularbearing 13 which is connected by pivots or journals 14: within a ring15, the latter being journalled in the bearing 2. The ring 15 has fixedtherein, parallel to its axis, a guide tube 16 provided with alongitudinal slot 16', and the tube has therein a, reciprocatory bolt 17provided with a bent dog or catch 17 which and 9 andbeing insulated fromextends laterally therefrom through the slot into position forengagement in the holes 2 of the bearing and holding the partsll, 13 and15 with their connections, respectively in three positions at the middleand the ends of a semi-circular arc, a coiled spring 18'disposed on thebo'ltbetween its head and its guide tube acting to effect the automaticEngagement of the catch with the holes thereor. I j The lever 11 hasfixed to its inner end a flat spring 19 which connects it with a bearing20. A pair of parallel rods 21 have their inner ends held in the bearing20, (detachably if desired, by. the set screw 22) and their outer endsfixed to ayoke 23,.the latter having fixed thereto the pin 24- oflsetfrom the axis of the lever. The bearing 3 (which may be connected 'bythe hinge 3 to the base 1 and held in" erected position by a spring 41)comprises a ring 3 having a bar 3 extending from its top throughitscentre to a rounded terminusand an oppositely disposed roundedprojection 3, with a passage 3 between them. The pin 24 projects into orthrough the ring 3 and is movable, by turning the lever 11, to aposition in the space 3 between the parts 3 and 3 or to positions oneither side thereof at right angles thereto.

A weight 25 is adjustable along the rods 21 and is held in the desiredposition by a set screw 43. The weight 25 carries an adjustable screw 27which is set inthe desired position by the nuts 27,, and the screw hasfixed on one end thereof a coiled spring 28 which carries a contact 29.The contact 29 is adapted for engagement with either contact bar 6 atvarious positions along the length thereof by the adjustment of theweight 25 along the rods 21 and the adjustment of the lever 11 byturning it about its axis.

The ring 15 has fixed thereto, parallel to its axis on opposite sidesthereof, the bars 30 and 31. The bar 30 is provided with the adjustablescrew .32 for engaging and lim iting the movement of the lever 11 in onedirection and the bar 31v is provided with the adjustable screw 33 'forlimiting the movement of the lever in theother direction. Adjustablescrews 34 and 35 in opposite ends of the bar 31 on opposite sides of thering 15 carry coiled springs 36 and 37 which act oppositely to retractthe lever from its position in engagement with the screw 33 toward or inengagement with the screw 34.

A segmental plate 42, fixed to the bearing 2, is adapted-for engagingthe parts 16 and 31 to stop the rotation of .the lever 11 in itsposition for the right and left hand semiautomatic operations. I V

A switch lever 38, having the fulcrum 39 on thebase 1, is movable intoand out of engagement with the plate 40 to connect and disconnect it andthe posts 7 and 9 relatively to the base.

Conductors and 46 pass through a side of the base 1, respectively, to anelectrical connection therewith and with the posts 4, 7 and 9, theseconductors being connected through the base to make a closed circuit bythrowing the lever 38 into contact with the plate 40.

In operation, when the instrument is to be used in semi-automaticoperation induced by the thumb of the right hand of the opera tor, theparts being in the position shown in 'Figs. 1. and 4, the movement ofthe knob 12 to the right throws the contact 29 into engagement with theleft hand bar 6 and this contact is oscillatedwith the production of thedesired number of dots rapidly, to make and, break the circuitrepeatedly, depending on the length of time the knob is held to theright.

7 When the operator withdraws his humb from the knob 12, the springs 36and 37 act. on the lever 11 and through the intermediateoscillator towithdraw the contac-t29 so that it will not engage the adjacent bar 6,and to throw the contact 44 to ward the contact 8 of the left hand post7,

the first finger of the right handbeing applied to the knob 12 to-pressthe contact 44 against the contact 8 to produce the desired dash ordashes. In this operation the pin 24 oscillates within the ring 3, tothe left of the bar or finger 3*, by which the arc of the movement'ofthe oscillator is limited. It, owing to weather conditions or the touchof the operator, for instance, the contact between the parts 6 and 29does not produce the dots with sufiicient clearness and loudness, theoscillators weight 25 is moved along the rods 21'to adj ustthe length ofthe stroke and the force of the blow. with resulting change in thecharacter of the contact and the effect in transmitting.

When the instrumentis to be used in semiautomatic operation induced bythe thumb of the left hand of the operator, the bolt 17 is pressed in,the catch 17 is disengaged from the bearing 2, and the lever 11 istnrnedthrough a half circle to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, whenthe pin 24 lies to the contact 44 with the contact 10,. to make .dot.ordash as may be required, the springs 36 and37 acting to disengagethese contacts as in withdrawing the contact 44 from the correspondingcontact 8.

Having described my invention,Iclaim:-

1. A transmitting telegraphic instrument having a base, a leverfulcrumed relatively tov said base and adapted to be oscillated indifferent planes, said lever having on oppo- Site sides of its fulcrum arelativelyfixed contact and. a relatively oscillatory contact,aplurality of contacts carried by said base and adapted respectively forengagement by the relatively fixed contact of said lever whenoscillating in different planes, and a pair of contacts carried by saidbase and adapted respectively for engagement by said relativelyoscillatory contact .when said lever is moved laterally in differentpositions thereof. I

2. A transmitting telegraphic instrument having a base, a bearingmounted thereon, a device journalled in said bearing, a lever fnlcrumedin said device. saidlever having a contact on one side of its fulcrumand on the other side thereof an oscillator provided with a contact, acontact device car- 1 ,asaoee engagement with said contact first namedwhen said lever is moved laterally in opposite directions in differentpositions thereof, and contact devices carried by said base on oppositesides of said oscillator for engagement with said contact second namedwhen said lever is operated laterally in opposite directions indifferent positions thereof.

3. A transmitting telegraphic instrument comprising a base provided witha bearing, a device journalled in said bearing, a lever lulcrumed insaid device, means carried by said device for limiting the oscillatorymovements oi and positioning said lever, means for fixing saidjournalled device in different positions and holding said lever inpositions for oscillating laterally or vertically, and contact devicesdisposed on opposite sides of said lever and a Contact device disposedbeneath said lever, with which contact devices said lever is adapted toengage when oscillated vertically or laterally in different positions ofsaid journalled device.

4C. A transmitting telegraphic instrument comprising, in combinationwith contact devices, a journalle-d operating lever provided with anoscillator having a contact, means for fixing said lever in differentpositions for movements in vertical and horizontal planes, a pin carriedby said oscillator eccentrically to the axis of revolution of saidlever, and means for different positions of said lever to control theaction of said oscillator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this 21st day of June,1921.

WALTER S. LYTLE.

engaging said pin in

